Fastener for shirts, coats, and the like



- 1,632,898 June 1927' J. A. HUGHSON FASTENER FOR SHIRTS, COATS, AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1927 A77 RNEYS.

Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STA 301m a. nuonson, or new Yonx, N. Y.

FASTENER FOR SHIRTS, COATS, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial No. 162,954.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical construction for fastening the front openings of shirts, barbers coats, and the like, without the employment of the buttons generally used for this purpose, and to so-constitute the construction that when in place on the wearer, the presence of. the invention will not be apparent. I

In practically carrying out the present invention, for example, on a shirt, a series of loops arevertically spaced apart along one side of the opening in the front of the shirt. Along the other side of the opening are correspondingly spaced holes which, when the marginal edges of the opening are each brought into proper overlapped relation, are adapted to receive the corresponding loops. Secured to the upper portion ofv the shirt, preferably by sewing beneath the neckband is a tongue of sufiicient length to reach downwardly to a point below the bottom loop and hole and after the loops have been drawn through the holes as described, the tongue is adapted to be passed downwardly through the several loops in succession.

The free end portionof the tongue is preferably of relatively stiff .material so as to facilitate the threading of the tongue through the loops and said lower end portion is provided with a retaining finger adapted to overlie the lowermost loop and extend into a pocket formed in, the tongue for the purpose of positively locking 1 the tongue fa-gain'st inadvertent withdrawal. The side of the shirt front in which the openings are formed is further provided with, a 'flap, the upper edge of which is sewed under. the ne'ckband of the shirt and one'marginal edge of which flap is stitched down to the bodyjof-the shirt, so that in normal position, the flap will overlie and completelyconceal the holes. loops and tongue', whereby theshirt will, to the casual observer, presentthe appearance of a conventional closed shirt front. V

. The invention is structurally simple and economical to manufacture, is thoroughly efficient, in its operation and entirely obviates therdisadvantages universally recognized in theuse of buttons, l

Features of the invention, 1other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter. detailed description and claims, y when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. ,7

. Figure 4 is a section on theli'ne 4-4 of Figure 8; and, Figure 5 is a fragmental perspective-view taken partly in section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2. y i

. The fastening meansof this invention may be applied tothe open front of a barber coat, union suit,or the like, but "for the purpose of illustration, I have shown the invention as incorporated inshirt construction. Thus, in thedrawing's, 1 designates a, shirt of the open front type. The respective side portions of the front of the shirt are designatedQ and 3, the neckband 4 and the collar button holes, common to shirt construction, are illustrated at 5.

Along the free edge 2% of the front portion i 2 and spaced ashort distance from saidedge are loops 6. These loops may be conveniently formed oftape, sewed upon the portion 2 in such manner as to extend forwardly therefrom. Adjacent the edge 3 of the shirt front portion 3 are formed a series of holes These holes are of substantially the same size as the loops 6 and .are similarly placed,

so that when the front portions of the shirt are brought into cooperative. relation with the collar but-ton extending through the holes 5 and the. portion 3 overlapping the portion 2, the loo'ps 6. will register with the holes 7, and may be drawn through said holes. I may, so desired, make the-loops of relatively stiff material, so that they will possess more body or rigidity than the material from which the shirt is made in order to, facilitate their insertion through the hole 7 I 8 designates :ato'ngue. This tongue is Socured at its upper end to the shirt in a per manent manner. It maybe sewed beneath neckband 4,311 the time the neckband is puteno r, ifdesired, it may be sewed to the part-r3 of-the shirt somewhere down from ing of the shirt.

the neckband, but above thetop opening 7. This tongue is of sufiicient lengthto extend from this point of attachment downwardly to a point below the bottom hole 7, and, is, of a width and texture to permit it to be readily threaded through the loops (Setter they have been passed thru the opening 7, as shown in Figure 2.

Here it will be noted that the tongue 8 extendsdownwardlythrough the several loops 6 in succession and projects below the lowermost loop.' I find it convenient to form the lower end portion of the tongue in such manner as to make it relatively stiff. This may be accomplished by using heavier material for the end portion of the tongue and by uniting such heavier material preferably formed in two or more plies to the remaining portionof the tongue after the manner shown in Figure 5.

In this latter figure, the relatively stiff end portion of the tongue is designated 8*, while the remaining relatively flexible portion thereof is designated 8. These two portions being united by stitching, as shown at 9. j At the free end of the tongue is sewed a locking finger 10, the stitchingbeing designated at 11; The free end of this ton ue extends back along the tongue and its tree end is adapted to be inserted through a slit 12 formed in the outer ply ofthe part 8. When the tongue is in the position shown in Figure 1, this lockin finger 10 is withdrawn fromthe slit 12 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, and while it is in this position, the tongue'is passed through the several loops 6. After it has been passed through all of the loops, the finger is bent down over the lowermost loop 6, and the'end of the finger tucked into the slit 12, so as to positively lock thefree end portion 8 to said lowermost loop, and thus preclude inadvertent shifting of the tongue. When it is desired to remove the tongue, the finger is withdrawn from the slit 12 and allowed to bend back, so that the tongue may be readily pulled upwardly through the several loops 6 to release said loops and allow of the open In order that the parts, which I have described, may be concealed from view when the shirt is worn and the front closed as described, aflap 14 is mounted on the part 3 ofthe shirt, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

upper end of this flap extends under the neckband and one of the lateral edges is sewed down tightly to the portion 3 by one or more lines ofstitching 15. This flap normally partakes of the position shown in Figs. 2 L0 5, inclusive and serves to cover and conceal the entire fastening means, The flap is shown as folded back toallow the fastening'means to be seen. This, however, is an abnormal position whichthe flap is adaptedto occupy only when thetongue is being inserted or removedfrom the loops.

The construction which I have described maybe manufactured economically, and is thoroughly efficient for the carrying out of its intended purposes. -It is free from the well known objections incident to the use of buttons and positively precludes the opening of, the shirt unless it is manually opened.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical form, but-the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

I Having thus fully described the invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure'by Letters Patentis:

1. A garment provided with an opening extending downwardly thereof, a series of loops secured to one side of the opening in vertical spaced apart relation to one another, and adapted to extend through correspondingly positionedholes formed in the garment adjacent the opposite side of the opening, when said latter side of the opening is in overlapped relation with respect to 2. A garment provided with an opening 7 extending downwardly thereof, a series of loops secured to one side of the opening in vertical spaced apart relation to one another, and adapted to extend throughcorrespondingly positioned holes'formed in the garment adjacent the opposite side of the opening, when said latter side of the open mg is in overlap ed relation with respect to the former si e, a tongue permanently secured at its upper end to the overlapping side of the opening above the uppermost hole therein and which tongue is adaptedto be threaded downwardly through the several loops in succession after said loops have been passed through the holes, the free end portion of the flap being provided with means to engage with the lowermost loop forthe advertent unthreading from said loop, and

purpose of securing the tongue against ina flap sewed to the overlapping side of the extending downw'ardl'y'thereof, a series of loops secured to one side :of the opening vertical spaced apart relation to one another,

opening a and adapted to normally overlie and adapted to extend through correspondingly positioned holes formed in the garment adjacent the'opposite side of the opening, when said latter side of the opening is in overlapped relation with respect to the former side, a tongue permanently secured at its upper end to the overlapping side of the opening above the uppermost hole therein and which tongue is adapted to be threaded downwardly through the several loops in succession aftersaid loops have been passed through the holes, a locking finger mounted adjacent the free end of the tongue and adapted to be passed over the lowermost loop and inserted into a pocket formed in the tongue to positively secure the free end of the tongue to said lowermost loop, and a flap sewed to the overlapping side of the opening and adapted to normally overlie the holes, loops and tongue for the purpose of covering and concealing the same.

4. A garment provided with an opening extending downwardly thereof, a series of loops secured to one side of the opening in vertical spaced apart relation to one another, and adapted to extend through correspondingly positioned holes formed in the garment adjacent the opposite side of the open ing, when said latter side of the opening is in overlapped relation with respect to the the opening above the uppermost hole therein and which tongue is ada ted to be threaded downwardly through t e several loops in succession after said loops have been passed through the holes, a locking finger mounted adjacent the free end of the tongue and adapted to be passed over the lowermost loop and inserted into a pocket formed in the tongue to positively secure the free end of the tongue to said lowermost loop, and a flap sewed to the overlapping side of the opening and adapted to normally overlie the holes, loops and tongue for the purpose of covering and concealing the same, the free end ortion of said tongue being relatively stil? to facilitate the threading of the tongue through the loops.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

JOHN A HUGHSON. 

